Does my USB-C Port support video transmission + Alternate Mode?

[Staffan_Swede]

I have almost the same question but regarding an HP Omen 15-dc0013no. According to the specification from HP that I can read on the web, the one and only USB-C port of this Omen model (recently bought it) supports Thunderbolt 3 and so on.

The exact question is:

Does this Thunderbolt 3 stuff mean that the USB-C Port of my Omen supports video (Alternate Mode ) as well as Power Delivery (preferably v2.0 or higher)?

And can a replicator with Thunderbolt (which is limited to supply at most 100W) really feed the current-demanding Omen which has a 200W AC adapter, or is the loading contribution of the dock just wasted and cannot replace the original adapter? The latter conclusion seems reasonable to me, so the Thunderbolt technology seems insuffient for gaming laptops in this case. Perhaps I even should shut off the PD function of the USB-C in order not to put too much joint stress on the power supply system - how can I turn it off then?

I would be happy to get these conditions confirmed before ordering a port replicator (dock) like the HP Elite Thunderbolt 3, or alternately the i-tech USB-C Dual Display MST Docking Station with Power Delivery (C31DUALDOCKPD).

Regards,

Staffan

[EddyK]

Hello @Staffan_Swede,

This is the USB-C port on your laptop: Data Transfer up to 40 Gb/s, DP1.2, HP Sleep and Charge

It's Thunderbolt BTW.

So yes, it will support display output but unfortunately, it doesn't seem to support passthrough charging. Even if it had USB-C PD, it's worth noting that the max PD can support is 100W.

Therefore, third-party docks with video transmission should theoretically function but charging will most likely not work.

Best regards,

Eddy

[Staffan_Swede]

Hi and thanks for your answer so far,

I just want to be sure that I really read your answer correctly. We seem to agree that an external power source cannot use the Thunderbolt compatible USB-C port of my Omen 15-dc0013 to supply the laptop with power instead of the ordinary 200 W AC adapter. The evident reason is that Thunderbolt is limited to support power supply up to 100 W of power but no more. This is certainly not enough to satisfy a demanding gaming laptop like the Omen. Then the remaning question is if the Thunderbolt compatible USB-C port of my Omen 15-dc0013 will be able to export power to external units, or if it will not charge or supply anything in any direction? And shall I, in case of the latter condition, shut charging off for the USB-C port in bios or in Windows in order to avoid risking trouble, or will the charging just not work if I try and I don't have to worry especially about it?

On the other hand, concerning display port alternate mode you confirm that it is available. In addition, external storage devices can make use of the Thunderbolt compatible USB-C port to theoretically transfer data at much faster speed than any other alternative, but I am not sure what the actual gain will be in real conditions. One thing is that I will have only SSDs in my Omen, i.e. one PCIe SSD 512 GB with the system partition, and one SATA SSD 1 TB for pure storage installed in the free slot of the dc-0013. Then the Thunderbolt USB-C port will at least eliminate one potential speed bottleneck for the transfer of data to and fro external disks. The external disk I aim to use is the LaCie Rugged 5 TB. Do you have any good advice, objections or additonal insights at regards storage/data transfer solutions making use of the Thunderbolt USB-C port, and what other advantages are really left for the Thunderbolt USB-C option in the Omen laptop. I am not so familiar with this technology.

Best regards,
Staffan

[EddyK]

Hello @Staffan_Swede,

Good questions.

So the main reason why you can't charge the laptop through the USB-C port is due to the lack of a PD Specification. Even if the laptop supported USB-C PD, the max it can support is 100W which, as you stated, is most definitely no match for the 200W AC adapter that is originally included. 

However, power out is definitely feasible. The port is advertised as having HP Sleep and Charge which essentially allows an output charge to devices - even if the computer is in sleep.

"Connects and charges most USB devices that have a Type-C connector, such as a cell phone, camera, activity tracker, or smartwatch, and provides high-speed data transfer."

The biggest personal benefit I see of Thunderbolt 3 is the ability to have extreme docking stations that may have been unimaginable a few years ago. (eGPUs or the option of having accelerated graphics on ultrathin notebooks is also awesome) 

The problem with the advertising of 40Gbps is that these are theoretical speeds that require special active cables with USB-C on both ends. Meaning that you will most likely not experience speeds anything close to this on normal USB-C 3.1 cables or other setups. 

A lot of people despise the transition to a singular all-function port but I truly believe the future is in Thunderbolt 3. Sure, we're probably gonna start asking around for dongles but I would rather have a singular type of port with extraordinary functionality instead of confusing variation of connectors all with different capabilities.

Hope this helps,

Eddy

[Staffan_Swede]

Hi again Eddy,

I agree with you about the feasibility of the Thunderbolt 3 from a general viewpoint. But of course the missing PD Specificition and  the100W limitation are a pity. Well, I have a good gaming laptop nevertheless. And a capable video and photo editing laptop as well. No reason to weep then!

Just some final thoughts to get your comments. If I connect a port replicator  meant to make use of a USB-C  port with Power Delivery specification (feeding the lapotop with, say, 60 up to 90W), does that mean that I have to turn something off in the bios or in Windows to avoid that the replicator supplies the laptop with extra current? I mean, would there be a risk of damage if I  let the extra current in instead of shutting it off? Or would it make no harm, or would the replicator see to that the input of current automatically was switched off in the absence of PD? A possible disadvantage would then be that the blocking of this current  would possibly hinder also the useful external device charging through the USB-C port. Or?

There are really many aspects to cover!

Best regards,

Staffan

[EddyK]

Hello @Staffan_Swede,

I don't exactly recommend pushing a charge to the USB-C port when its incapable of PD. Unfortunately, there's no such BIOS setting.

One thing I can recommend is simply choosing USB-C hubs that don't require power in.

Kind regards,

Eddy

[Staffan_Swede]

Thanks for your  repeated help ! However, sorry to say, still some things are in a way unclear to me.

First, if I get it right, you mean that, without  PD, the USB-C of my laptop will let in the current supplied by a port replicator from its AC adapter in a way that risks hurting the laptop's power internals. Correct?

Then a couple of questions:

Is it  absolutely impossible to stop the power in resulting from the pass-through of a port replicator with an AC power adapter? That is, is  not there some option to  restrict the AC power of the port replicator only to its very own needs and avoiding to send extra current into the laptop? May there even be a possibility that such a restriction enters into force automatically whenever the adapter finds no PD in the laptop ? If the answer is no, it seems that a replicator for my Omen has to be of a type not demanding anymore than the power out supplied from the laptop through its  USB-C.

Finally, do you have any hint as regards a  port replicator that uses  the USB-C port  and generally works well as a replicator but does not include any uncontrollable AC adapter of its own? What do say for instance about the HP USB-C Travel Port Replicator? Or is there any other comparable or even better alternative? The HP seems not to fulful more than the absolute minimum requirement of ports from my point of view, and contains a VGA port that I find really wasting the space that it takes (this port probably mirrors a travelling-around-the-whole-world concept). However, the price is not so high and,,, Looking forward to your advice!

Best regards,

Staffan